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Page 271
she detected an odd note in the voice of her castellan from Clyro Hill. In the moment, she was aware of Ian, who stood just at her left shoulder. Although his right hand did not move, his left slid down to grasp the scabbard of his sword as if to ready it for drawing. Even Joanna, who Alinor saw had remembered her part and came to stand at her mother's right hand, noticed something amiss and siffened. Alinor said her say, leaned forward and gave the man the kiss of peace, but it made her no easier that he would not meet her eyes. He waved his squire forward with his token, a clutch of pheasants' eggs and five leeks, and Alinor accepted them with the formal words. The witnesses shouted "Fiat!" Sir Peter stepped down from the dais, but Alinor's eyes followed him speculatively until she had to give her attention to Sir Alfred of Ealand.
Then she was free to step back. It was Ian's turn. This taking of homage was, of course, totally unnecessary in the sense that nothing had changed Ian's social position or his relationship with his vassals. However, it was a good idea to renew oaths of fealty as often as possible on general principles; the repetition seemed to increase loyalty. Moreover, renewing the oath at this time would obviate the complaint that Ian would be busy with his wife's lands and might neglect his own without warning his vassals of his new responsibilities. Alinor paid little attention. Although technically she was Ian's heir, because he had no other family, she was not yet concerned with the idea of holding his lands if anything happened to him.
Midway in the swearing, there was a disturbance at the back of the hall. Alinor's head lifted sharply, but apparently the men-at-arms crowded into that section had either explained what was going forward or had otherwise silenced the intruder. Completely freed from her earlier oppression, Alinor's heart leapt with expectation. If this was the king's messenger, God had favored

 
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